[laxer12]

I feel like my sessions are out of the ordinary in that I'm always so serious during them. I get a lot out of them because T and talk about deep stuff but from what I've read on here and elsewhere online, it seems like it's weird that there is rarely, if ever, any laughing or joking around during session. I'm really sarcastic in my daily life but when I get into "therapy mode", that gets turned off and I only laugh if T makes a joke. She has only done it a couple of times though and it's not that I don't like it, I just am not in that mindset in therapy.

I've started to begin sessions just by jumping in with whatever is on my mind so we don't even engage in small-talk or anything.

My T is awesome and let's me talk about anything so there isn't a problem, I'm just curious what happens with other people. I just feel like it's weird and I don't want my T to think I'm boring and that I don't have a sense of humor...

[stopdog]

I don't play with the therapist. I find it better that way.
She did try a couple of times to have what she called lighter appointments but they infuriated me = I am not paying the woman to chat with her or to joke with her. She does not get to have that part of me.

My T almost always do some chatting at some point. We are both family people and like to share what's going on. We're just friendly that way. I don't think you have to worry about your T's opinion of you if that isn't how you do things though. Everyone is different.

T and i laugh a lot and chat a lot, inbetween all the seriousness.

Originally Posted by laxer12

I feel like my sessions are out of the ordinary in that I'm always so serious during them. I get a lot out of them because T and talk about deep stuff but from what I've read on here and elsewhere online, it seems like it's weird that there is rarely, if ever, any laughing or joking around during session. I'm really sarcastic in my daily life but when I get into "therapy mode", that gets turned off and I only laugh if T makes a joke. She has only done it a couple of times though and it's not that I don't like it, I just am not in that mindset in therapy.

I've started to begin sessions just by jumping in with whatever is on my mind so we don't even engage in small-talk or anything.

My T is awesome and let's me talk about anything so there isn't a problem, I'm just curious what happens with other people. I just feel like it's weird and I don't want my T to think I'm boring and that I don't have a sense of humor...

My sessions can be like that. But I can bring humour into them too.
I don't get from reading here that your sessions are 'stand alones'.
I am introverted so prefer deep discussions also.

My sessions are like yours, we have no small talk, we just get straight onto it. Like you I think I might like some humour. Maybe it will come with time?

[Elkino]

I find humor in therapy a very difficult thing. But maybe that is because I like using sarcasm... And for one or another reason that's often not the best thing to use with a therapist (in my experience at least). Quite a few times it turned out not to be funny at all and instead left my T wondering why I said the things I said. But how do you then tell your T that he/she's probably not getting your kind of humor?
So, for this reason, I don't mind the fact that my sessions stay 'on topic' most of the time and consist mostly out of rather serious conversations.

[lostwonder]

Progression of my therapy:
I don't speak ---> I cut up a ton as a defence mechanism, both my T and I laugh quite a bit ----> I am serious, but my T laughs because he thinks I'm being funny

my therapy is serious too. we laugh occasionally but generally I don't think it would be something that would help me in therapy.

[LonesomeTonight]

In both my sessions with T and marriage counselor (MC), there is some joking and laughter, plus a bit of off-topic talk, mixed in with the seriousness. I find it helps.

Like I think yesterday, T could tell I was a bit overwhelmed with all we've been talking about and I've been dealing with lately, so we really just spent the last 20 minutes of the session chatting about lighter things rather than all the deep stuff. I think it helps our bond. And with MC, it can definitely help lighten the mood or break some tension. Especially as most of his jokes are at his own expense (like making fun of himself).

[Soccer mom]

My sessions used to be more lighthearted and then they got serious. Instead of chit chat in the beginning, I would just dive right in afraid I wouldn't have enough time. A few times I told my T. that she doesn't seem to laugh/cut up as much and she reminded me that usually therapy is serious.

I think it just depends on the topic I"m talking about. Sometimes she teases me and usually it's when she's pointing something out. Recently she asked me why my brother had been in therapy because he had the same issues - trust/abandonment, etc. I told her I didn't know and then I said oh yes it was because of his mom. We have different mothers. She just smiled at me and looked a long time. Until I said oh, ok we have the same issues. Hmmm

And, sometimes I want the humor and she's serious and it bugs me. Perhaps it also depends on who went before me and what her day is like. If she's too serious, I point it out in hopes of lightening her up.

[Chummy]

In most of my sessions I'm pretty serious. I think it has also to do with my social anxiety. It's just hard to be myself.

[Coco3]

My sessions are serious most of the time. But my T likes to use humor and so do I, so there's definately room for jokes and laughter. It depends on the topic and my mood.

[ragsnfeathers]

I'm usually serious in therapy. Mostly, I don't want to waste my 50 minutes a week. Also, a few times my therapist made a joke or laughed about something but I have this lag time before I get it which shows up most one on one. He laughed about something a few weeks ago which I didn't get why it was funny (not offensive just wtf). I just politely waited for him to finish. The first session he laughed a lot but stopped. Not sure if it was to mirror me or what.

[stopdog]

I finally got the first one to agree to stop trying to be funny. First she never was funny and second - I refuse to play with her. She proved unworthy of such. Sometimes she still tries - but I remind her she promised she would stop doing it.

[NowhereUSA]

Usually my T and I will crack each other up at least once a session. And we're also really serious within the same hour. We share a similar sense of humor and we click really well so... Idk. I think it can vary depending on the person and the relationship.

[Sarah1985]

Mine are both. I personally, could handle all serious sessions, I would be an emotional mess. Plus my personality is full of humor, so it naturally comes out in sessions.